Leading with Clarity – notes from Developing the Leader Within
Lead With Clarity: Mastering Priorities for Greater Impact
Leaders,
One of the most valuable skills you can ever develop is the ability to prioritize well. Your priorities determine your direction — and your direction determines your impact. Busy leaders often don’t struggle with a lack of activity, but with a lack of focus. When everything matters, nothing really does.
So let’s talk about the power of priorities.
The 20/80 Principle — Doing What Actually Moves the Needle
You may know it as the Pareto Principle:
20% of what you do produces 80% of your results.
The same is true with people — usually 20% of your team is responsible for 80% of your organization’s success.
Effective leaders don’t work harder… they work smarter.
How strong leaders apply the 20/80 rule:
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Spend 80% of your people-time with your top 20%.
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Invest most development into those who are already growing.
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Delegate the tasks that produce little return.
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Have your top leaders train the next leaders behind them.
We teach what we know,
but we reproduce what we are.
If you want strong leaders, become one and then build them.
How Great Leaders Prioritize Their Time
Successful leaders sort tasks into four buckets:
| Category | Action |
|---|---|
| High Importance + High Urgency | Do first — these demand immediate attention |
| High Importance + Low Urgency | Schedule intentionally — these matter most long-term |
| Low Importance + High Urgency | Delegate or handle quickly — don’t let these drain you |
| Low Importance + Low Urgency | Offload — this is busywork disguised as productivity |
Every day, you are either choosing your schedule
or your schedule is choosing you.
Leadership requires the courage to say yes to the best and no to the rest.
Three Questions That Keep Leaders Focused (The 3 R’s)
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What is required of me?
Where must my hands be and nowhere else? -
What gives the greatest return?
What produces the highest fruit for my time? -
What is most rewarding?
What energizes me, aligns with purpose, and glorifies God?
Use these three questions weekly — even daily — and watch clarity grow.
Priority Principles to Lead By
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Priorities shift — review them regularly
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Good opportunities often compete with great ones
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Too many priorities paralyze progress
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Crises reveal what we truly value
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Don’t wait to focus on what matters most — start now
Lead with intention, not reaction.
Lead by design, not default.
Let’s lead with clarity, purpose, and intentionality this week.
— Pastor Chris
Notes inspired by John Maxwell, “Developing the Leader Within You”